Project Learning Tree’s Teacher Conservation Tour 2024 Series: Arkansas Forest Products Tour

June 20-21, 2024
Ferncliff Retreat House
Paron, AR

In 2023, Arkansas’s forest industries contributed $5.4 billion dollars to the state’s economy. ^a When you think of forest products you likely think of pulp, paper, and 2×4’s but it is really so much more! Over 5,000 everyday products are derived from trees – from medicines to paints and from toothpaste to tires, tree-based chemicals and other wood by-products are all around us.

Join us on the 2-day field trip as we explore several of Arkansas’s forest products. We will visit working pecan and peach orchards to learn how these trees are grown to produce their prized fruit and nuts. Plus, we will visit a native tree seedling nursey to see how seedlings are grown, collected, and packaged for reforestation projects across the region. Did you know Arkansas is also a producer of live Christmas trees? Participants will tour a Christmas Tree farm to learn what goes into growing this iconic holiday décor. A growing market, fairly new to the state, are white oak staves. Wood from white oaks is used to make wooden casks and barrels for the wine and bourbon industry. We will learn how and why white oak is used to make these containers plus have the opportunity to take an optional guided tour of the Rock Town Distillery to see how these barrels are used in aging spirits.

Registration is limited to 25. Limited overnight bunkhouse-style shared lodging is available on a first-come first-reserved basis so register early!

Fee: $30 registration only / $60 registration with overnight lodging

Qualifies for 12 hours of ADE and AR PDR credit.

Click HERE to see the flyer for more information and a link to register.

Please contact Rob Beadel at rbeadel@arkforests.org with any questions.